The Downside
Price isn’t a viable downside criticism, although no one can argue the
Revel Sub 30 is cheap. I would have liked to see the sound pressure
meter needed to do the set-up measurements included as part of the
price tag. At over $6,000, Harman could buy a few thousand good meters
and offer them as part of the package.

In the effort to really nitpick, there are great new colors available
for the Revel Sub 30, as opposed to the Performa level B15 subwoofer.
However, in comparison to the more expensive yet equally high-end
Wilson WATCH Dog subwoofer, you cannot have your Revel Sub 30 custom
painted to match an exotic finish of your main speakers or the overall
design of your room. The Revel Sub 30 is not what I would call a small
sub, so making it fit in terms of overall design in your theater or
listening room could be a challenge, especially if your décor is not
modern.

Conclusion
The Revel Sub 30 is the best subwoofer I have gotten my grimy hands on
in my 14 years of working professionally in the audio business. While
it is expensive, it has both the technology and the improved physical
design to take my system to the next level. There is NO question it
sounds better than the Revel B15, as it very well should for the
increase in the price! In my modern house, the Revel Sub 30 looks much
cooler and matches my décor in a way that, even if it didn’t sound that
much better, I would have to own it. Needless to say, it sounds better
and, even at its price, represents a very good value.

With Revel leading the way out of the restructuring in Harman Specialty
Group, the Sub 30 is a statement product to offer to the industry. This
is a guaranteed Top 100 product that belongs in the best home theaters
to be matched with the best audiophile speakers in order to provide
real bass without compromise.